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Outbreak Updates
Updated March 12, 2020
For resources and updates from another day, please click here.
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As of March 12, 2020 (10:23 EST), there are over 127,800 cases (4,718 deaths) worldwide in 123 countries.
The World Health Organization has declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Cuba and Honduras have now also reported their first cases of COVID-19. Currently, a total of 14 countries are impacted in Latin America. Greece, Algeria, Ireland, and Indonesia have confirmed their first deaths from COVID-19.
In the United States, there are 1,323 confirmed (38 deaths) COVID-19 cases. The following 44 states are reporting cases: Washington (338), New York (225), California (201), Massachusetts (95), Colorado (34), Texas (33), Georgia (31), Florida (29), Illinois (25), Nebraska (23), New Jersey (23), Pennsylvania (21), Oregon (20), Iowa (14), Maryland (13), Louisiana (13), North Carolina (12), Indiana (11), South Carolina (10), District of Columbia (10), Arizona (9), Virginia (9),Kentucky (8), Tennessee (8), South Dakota (8), Nevada (7), Wisconsin (6), Rhode Island (5), New Hampshire (5), Minnesota (5), Ohio (5), New Mexico (4), Utah (3), Oklahoma (3), Connecticut (3), Hawaii (2), Vermont (2), Michigan (2), Kansas (1), Missouri (1), Arkansas 1), Delaware (1), Mississippi (1), North Dakota (1), Wyoming (1).
Twenty-five (25) states and the District of Columbia in the US (California, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Iowa, Arkansas, Louisiana, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, Florida, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey, and Maryland) have declared a state of emergency.
Current Confirmed Cases (countries with over 100 cases):
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China: 80,932
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Italy: 12,462
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Iran: 10,075
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Republic of Korea: 7,869
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France: 2,284
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Spain: 2,277
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Germany: 2,078
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United States: 1,323
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Norway: 702
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Switzerland: 652
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Japan: 639
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Denmark: 617
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Netherlands: 503
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Sweden: 500
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United Kingdom: 459
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Belgium: 314
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Austria: 302
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Qatar: 262
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Bahrain:195
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Singapore: 178
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Malaysia: 149
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Israel: 130
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Australia: 128
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Canada: 117
Please see the CDC’s Travel Recommendations for travel guidance.
Key Points
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Due to increasing concerns about the “alarming levels of spread and severity, and by the alarming levels of inaction”, WHO has now classified the COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic.
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While its designation may have changed, COVID-19 and how an individual and business manages their health, safety, and risk is not any more or less different than prior to this.
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The United States government has their own website for COVID-19 (link).
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Schools and universities around the U.S. and throughout the world are closing (and urging online classes, when possible) due to COVID-19.
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Wash hands and practice social distancing. Increasingly, large gatherings and events are being temporarily suspended or canceled.
People of all ages can be infected with COVID-19. People of all ages should take steps to help protect themselves and others. Please take steps to protect yourself through good hand hygiene, good respiratory hygiene, and social distancing. (WHO)
Recommendations for
the Food Industry
Prepare Ahead for Worker Absenteeism and Impacts
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As COVID-19 widespread transmission continues, employers are confronting the dire questions of best methods of decreasing its spread and lessening potential workplace impact. Since the best preparation is before action is required; the State of Washington’s Department of Health (DOH) has provided guidance for preparation and considerations for decision-making.
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Firstly, identify your objectives, including reducing worker transmission, protecting those at higher risk for adverse health complications, maintaining business operations, and/or minimizing effects on the supply chain.
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In making the related decisions, consider the extent of the outbreak in your area: stay up-to-date on guidance from your local health officials, and understand the potential impact on workers at higher risk for adverse health complications (i.e. older adults and those with pre-existing or chronic medical conditions).
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To prepare for the potential number of increased absences of both employee and employee’s household members resulting from illness and even school closure impacts on parents, you should assess your essential functions and customer/community reliance on your services or products to:
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Develop plans for the continuance of essential business functions.
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Cross-train various personnel on essential functions.
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Identify alternative suppliers, prioritize customers, determine if some operations could be temporarily suspended.
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Washington’s DOH also encourages multi-site businesses to give authority to local managers to take appropriate actions based on their site and your business infectious disease outbreak response plan. (If you don’t have a response plan, now is the time to develop it – Find out more about TAG’s COVID-19 Retainer Package!
Keep up to date with COVID-19:
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Please send us any questions, comments, and/or concerns! We are happy to talk with you.
OR call us at 1-800-401-2239
Get the Insights & Guidance You Need!
Learn how TAG can help your company ensure food safety and brand protection.
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